Do your muscles thank you yet your joints dont forgive?

[asim]

Problem. Quick and simple. My muscles thank me for the heavy weights on my legs. But my knees never forgive me. Its not so bad when leg pressing, theres like no pressure then. But squatting today was hell. I told myself that after my injury i would never go below 12 reps again for legs. What did i do, 6 reps. 6 fucking hard reps. Probably some of the hardest ive ever felt, and not cause of the weight, cause ive done heavier. But my knees were screaming.

My left one especially cause thats the injured knee.

So first question, i'll probably get an obvious answer, but i want to reinforce that i'm making the right decision. Its a stupid question, but should i stick with higher reps when im squatting? I find ive got the power in my legs, but my knees are agony, and my back tends to give out before my legs do.

My answer to that would be increase reps, but i want to find out what yall think.

Oh and the second question. Does anyone here suffer from joint problems and have you lightened the weight because of it?

[In-Human]

It would be best you do whats comfortable, when my knees become irrated with Squating movemnets I skip them or lighten the load for higher reps.

Foot placing can be key and wrapping your knees the correct way is another great thing. When you wrap your knees you wrap from the out side of your Patella to the inside so you keep your Patella moving inwards as you Squat, do not criss cross the wraps but wrap in a circle around your knee cap...

[asim]

I dont wrap because ive heard wrapping causes wearing under the knee cap. on the patella tendon.

But i might have to start.

I made a doctors appointment for tomorrow after putting it off for a while. Going to see what he says. im hoping for a cortisone shot, come out lighten the weight and stick with higher reps. I'll still see leg growth, cause remember what we say, heavy is relative.

[In-Human]

I dont wrap because ive heard wrapping causes wearing under the knee cap. on the patella tendon.

That is not true at all, another myth someone made up, if you wrap correctly there will be no problems unless you already have a Patella problem.

Cortisone is only masking the pain, I would not opt for that...

[BeeJ]

I'm having hard time with my right shoulder lately. I can only do Smythe Machine Presses and have to watch how low I can go. I usually stop about ear level on the pressing to either the front or back. Overhead pressing with a DB causes immediate pain in my right shoulder even with very light weight. I really need to get some ART done, as the last time I did this my shoulder was completely pain free in about 3 weeks of treatment.

Anyway, what do you guys do for overhead pressing movements, and how do you work around nagging shoulder injuries?

[asim]

That is not true at all, another myth someone made up, if you wrap correctly there will be no problems unless you already have a Patella problem.

Cortisone is only masking the pain, I would not opt for that...

I thought cortisone was used to reduce the inflammation.

Well i guess i'll start to wrap on my heaviest set but i still want to keep with 10 or more reps.
Do you wrap for the 20 rep set aswell?

I'm having hard time with my right shoulder lately. I can only do Smythe Machine Presses and have to watch how low I can go. I usually stop about ear level on the pressing to either the front or back. Overhead pressing with a DB causes immediate pain in my right shoulder even with very light weight. I really need to get some ART done, as the last time I did this my shoulder was completely pain free in about 3 weeks of treatment.

Anyway, what do you guys do for overhead pressing movements, and how do you work around nagging shoulder injuries?

When i screwed up my shoulder i didnt do any over head pressing movements, hell i couldnt even squat cause i couldnt get my arm back there. Working around it was a bitch. Cant even remember what i did while it was at its worst.

[In-Human]

I'm having hard time with my right shoulder lately. I can only do Smythe Machine Presses and have to watch how low I can go. I usually stop about ear level on the pressing to either the front or back. Overhead pressing with a DB causes immediate pain in my right shoulder even with very light weight. I really need to get some ART done, as the last time I did this my shoulder was completely pain free in about 3 weeks of treatment.

Anyway, what do you guys do for overhead pressing movements, and how do you work around nagging shoulder injuries?

I have terrible Rotators from years of lifting, and there are just some over head pressing I cannot do.

For instance when I do DB Shoulder Press I go very high reps 20-30RP and I warm up with a lot of sets, maybe 5 sets of warm ups til my shoulders are ready with very little pain.

I also do all kinds of Rotator exercises at least 5 days a week, if I skip them I am in for trouble when it comes to chest and shoulder movements...

[In-Human]

I thought cortisone was used to reduce the inflammation.

Yes that is correct, but since it is only temporary reducing the inflammation you will feel as the injury is gone and for most they train that spot with all out intensity and make the injury worse when the Cortisone wears off...

[Big-Ron]

Could using knee supports as opposed to wraps, do the same sort of job in holding the joint securely whilst squatting?

I don't have any problems yet, nor do i intend to. But i use supports for my elbows and they work a treat, just wondering if that would be the case for knees.

[asim]

Yes that is correct, but since it is only temporary reducing the inflammation you will feel as the injury is gone and for most they train that spot with all out intensity and make the injury worse when the Cortisone wears off...

well that kinda sucks then. i guess the only way is to reduce the stress on the knees to give them a chance to heal.

[In-Human]

Could using knee supports as opposed to wraps, do the same sort of job in holding the joint securely whilst squatting?

I don't have any problems yet, nor do i intend to. But i use supports for my elbows and they work a treat, just wondering if that would be the case for knees.

I use neoprene sleeves while warming up then I use knee wraps over them when going for my worksets...

[Big-Ron]

I use neoprene sleeves while warming up then I use knee wraps over them when going for my worksets...

Cool, i'll start doing them this way from now on. Better to get into good habits early thanks

[PTAaron]

asim - another reason to stay away from cortisone is that repeated injections of it into a joint can actually damage the cartilage, and even lead to tendon rupture - so I would use that sparingly... If they have them in your area - try to find a sports medicine specialist, they are more likely to do a proper exam and give better input than a general practitioner...
Just my $0.02

[asim]

Well the doctor was a fucking waste of time. The woman did like absolutley nothing, Moved my knee about a tiny bit. Asked me if there was pain when she did that. I said no because there wasnt enough pressure on it.

She says its probably a strained ligament which i havent given time to rest and heal.

And i should go see a physio.

So nothing i didnt already know.


Thats why i hate doctors. They are useless. Trying to save their precious nhs money, send you away as quick as possible.

[PTAaron]

Sounds like a typical general doctor... I actually went to one for a shoulder problem and she ended up asking me what was wrong with her ankle!
Try the physio - I understand they are very well trained in your area... I've worked with a few that have come over here and have been extremely impressed with how thorough and knowledgeable they are.